Iranian Official: We Expect Europe to Present Its Proposals on JCPOA by Next Week

In order to examine the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the Joint Commission of the JCPOA held a meeting on Friday, June 4, in Vienna, during which JCPOA members agreed to increase their ongoing actions in the working group on sanctions relief. The U.S. exit from the nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic and its intention to reinstate stringent sanctions against Iran have posed a serious challenge to the preservation of the JCPOA and Europe's economic interaction with Iran, which was the focus of the meeting on Friday to find solutions to this challenge. This meeting in Vienna was the first session of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA after the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement. Helga Schmidt, Deputy High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, and the deputies of the foreign ministers of Iran and the five global powers attended the meeting. Before the start of the meeting, Reuters and the Associated Press reported, citing an Iranian official, that the Islamic Republic expects to receive Europe's economic proposals within the next few days. This unnamed senior Iranian official told reporters, 'We expect this package to be presented to us by the end of May (June 10),' and Tehran will decide on remaining in the JCPOA 'a few weeks after receiving the proposals.' According to the Associated Press, this Iranian official also stated that if Europe fails to find a solution to 'guarantee' to Iran, Tehran may 'resume its nuclear program.' According to ISNA, Iran suggested that the next step should be a ministerial-level meeting of the Joint Commission of the JCPOA. The final joint statement of the meeting on Friday stated that 'the members of the JCPOA agreed to increase their ongoing actions in the Joint Commission and all its subsidiary bodies within the framework of the four plus one and Iran, particularly in the working group on sanctions relief.' The statement continued that, in this regard, the members of the JCPOA discussed and examined joint steps to find operational solutions in the coming weeks regarding the following topics: maintaining and deepening economic relations with Iran; continuing the sale of oil, gas condensates, and petroleum and petrochemical products and related transactions; efficient banking interactions with Iran; continuing maritime, land, air, and rail transportation with Iran; increasing export credits and establishing special pathways in financial, banking, insurance, and commercial sectors to facilitate economic and financial cooperation, including through practical support for trade and investment; further developing and implementing cooperation agreements and contracts that third-country companies have concluded with their Iranian counterparts; increasing investment in Iran; supporting economic actors and providing a reassuring legal environment; further developing a transparent and regulated business environment in Iran. Helga Schmidt announced in a tweet that Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, was specifically present at the meeting on Friday. Schmidt also referred to the latest report from the Agency, which 'once again confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA.' At the meeting on Friday, Yukiya Amano reaffirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA. However, in a confidential report from the Agency, which Reuters summarized on Thursday, it was noted that Iran could 'act more quickly' in granting inspection access to nuclear sites. Regarding the prospects of preserving the JCPOA, Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Vienna, 'My confidence has increased compared to before the meeting.' He added that Tehran will decide within 'a few weeks' following technical discussions with the P5 whether to remain in the JCPOA or not. Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian representative at the meeting, told reporters after the session, 'I think all the available signs indicate that we will succeed, provided we all have the necessary political will.' These comments from the Russian representative come as another senior Iranian diplomat expressed doubt about Europe's ability to succeed in preserving the JCPOA, stating, 'I regret to say that I personally am not sure they will be able to succeed.' This unnamed senior diplomat added, 'Of course, we have given them a chance to try.' Some European sources participating in the meeting also told Al-Mayadeen that there are difficulties in meeting all of Iran's conditions. U.S. President Donald Trump warned on May 9, a day after announcing the official withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA, that if Iran resumes uranium enrichment, it will face 'serious consequences.' The three European countries, France, Britain, and Germany, emphasizing the preservation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, stated that they are seeking a way to protect their companies' economic transactions against U.S. sanctions. However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has demanded 'guarantees' from European countries and has set seven conditions for them. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed confidence that the United States would eventually reach a common approach with Europe to counter Iran's threats. On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told ILNA that obtaining guarantees from Europe within a few weeks is 'not impossible.' Zarif also mentioned to ILNA that the subject of today's Joint Commission meeting would be the examination of the U.S. exit from the JCPOA and the contents of his recent letter 'to Ms. Mogherini regarding the violations of the U.S. in the JCPOA and their withdrawal from the nuclear agreement.' Donald Trump announced the U.S. exit from the nuclear agreement with Iran on May 8, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic continued to expand its ballistic missile program and 'support for terrorism' in the region after the JCPOA.